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Jenna Elyse Johnson is a children's author, teacher and bookseller with a particular passion for writing stories that highlight disability joy. Having grown up with cerebral palsy, and now living with other chronic illnesses, Jenna enjoys creating stories that feature all types of characters. She lives in Northern California, USA, with her service dog, Hamilton. www.jennaelysejohnson.com Ananya Rao-Middleton is an illustrator and disability activist who uses her art to advocate for greater representation and understanding of disability, diversity, and resilience. Her work highlights the beauty of difference and the power of empathy, aiming to empower children of all abilities to see themselves in the stories they read. Beyond her illustration work, she actively engages in social issues, drawing on her own experiences to create art that inspires a kinder, more inclusive world. Ananya lives between Lisbon, Portugal, and London, England. Audra Mariel earned a BFA in theatre from Kean University where she explored her love for Shakespeare and classical texts. After graduating, she performed, assistant directed, and directed local, educational, and touring productions. At 28 she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy IV, a degenerative muscular condition. Though she continued to perform in the theatre for many years, eventually she switched her focus to a less physically demanding creative expression for her - music. Audra is currently writing and performing her own original songs as Martin Howth, performing with her band, Audra Mariel & A Real Human Jazz Band, and with other jazz ensembles in and around New York City.
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